Massimo Zanetti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, commented: \u201cHoja Verde Gourmet is a leading player in the coffee and chocolate sector. Based in Ecuador \u2013 home to one of the most prized varieties of Arabica coffee and the extraordinarily fine \u201cFino de Aroma\u201d cocoa \u2013 Hoja Verde Gourmet has succeeded in creating premium products that stand out for the extremely high quality of the raw materials, innovation and sustainability witnessed by the numerous awards received. The coffee and cocoa produced in these communities are appreciated all over the world because of their rich aromatic bouquet. Ecuador\u2019s geographical diversity ensures a significant range of aromas and flavours that differ by region. In the Loja region, for example, at the foot of the Southern Andes plateau, the coffee plantations are located at a height of over 1,600 m and climatic conditions are optimal for growing and sun drying Arabica coffee. On the other hand, on the Galapagos archipelago, the particularly favourable climate allows coffee to grow at low altitudes, warmed by the hot equatorial sun and mitigated, on the one hand, by the cold Humboldt currents and, on the other, by Panama\u2019s warm waters. In addition, the local presence allows us to produce chocolate and coffee from the raw material, and thus to have full visibility of the entire production chain. We are extremely satisfied to have finalised this high-potential acquisition and to have added Caf\u00e9 V\u00e9lez and Hoja Verde chocolate to our brand portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoja Verde Gourmet, in just a few years, has succeeded in building a prestigious image for itself in the chocolate world, confirmed by the numerous awards won and certifications obtained. Many of its products have won recent international prizes, such as the\u00a0Academy of Chocolate<\/i>,\u00a0Ecuador Chocolate Awards<\/i>, and\u00a0International Chocolate Awards Americas<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Hoja Verde Gourmet cocoa comes from the provinces of Esmeraldas and Zamora, in the north-western and southern regions of Ecuador, and is produced by small local growers who also use organic, sustainable growing methods. Ecuador is home to \u201cNational Arriba\u201d, a fine, aromatic cocoa \u2013 one of the most prized in the world.<\/p>\n